I tried to key this in Cole (1)...got to family Syrphidae, genus Merodon. But the guide page for Merodon states that the only nearctic species is M. equestris, and this fly didn't seem to fit very well with any M. equestris images on BugGuide (e.g. this fly has two short transverse bars near the mid-wings, a relatively hairless mesonotum, etc.).

This fly seemed to have a small territory staked out among some Lizardtail bushes (Eriophyllum stachaedifolium), so I'm guessing it was a male. It intermittently rested on leaves of Iris douglasiana too.

It is, and indeed it is a male in the genus Ferdinandea!
In your area of the world there are 5 species of the genus, but I don't know which one it is! Probably something like a male Ferdinandea buccata, but tht's a guess!
Greetings,

But no Merodon (Bulb Fly). These latter have distinctly swollen hind femora and a typical loop (similar to that of Eristalini) in wing venation. I think tribe Cheilosiini (Rhingiini in BG), maybe genus Fernandinea, is a better match. But I'm no Diptera expert...

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